h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The next dry day we have down here in the Valley I have to get out the garden and weed. Whenever I've thought of 'weeding' the image that has come to mind is big healthy perrenial weeds with thick tap roots. In my naieve and thoughtless way that is the only weeding I've ever considered, which is very silly. The weeds I have to remove (that is, if it stops raining long enough) are tiny, just sprouted, smaller even than my seedlings. I've just never thought of weeds starting out small. Inside my head they have been things that burst fully formed and malignant from the ground. I'm rather reluctant to remove all the tiny weedlings. They're so very delicate and hopeful. I have no problem with the other type of weeding, most weeds seem to be big brutes who won't play nicely with other plants, but these aren't doing any harm, yet, and they have that pesky underdog air that makes me feel sorry for them.